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Great African Food!
This is the yummiest African food I've had (outside of the home-cooking my ethiopian neighbors do!).
It caters to meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans...the location is beautifully decorated, the...
This is the yummiest African food I've had (outside of the home-cooking my ethiopian neighbors do!).
It caters to meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans...the location is beautifully decorated, the staff are friendly. The food is to die for! I can't remember what that yam stuff is called, but DAMN is it good! It tastes like it isn't vegan, but it is!! And their collard greens? MMMMMMMM-mmm. It's better than candy, and I'm not joking. Given the choice between chocolate and those greens, I choose the greens (now you know I'm not joking). I usually get the veggie combo which is enough for two meals. The combo has greens, veggies and different lentil dishes served on Njera bread, which is traditional Ethiopian bread. They also have dishes that are from other parts of Africa, but unfortunately, they aren't vegetarian, so I haven't tried them. If you have never had african food, don't be intimidated to try it here... but be sure to bring a friend, because it really does take two to eat one order!
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Not your typical bookstore
Left Bank is the first thing in Seattle that made my head turn once I got over the beautiful mountains and that weird space-needle thingy. Imagine being surrounded by people who are down with terms...
Left Bank is the first thing in Seattle that made my head turn once I got over the beautiful mountains and that weird space-needle thingy. Imagine being surrounded by people who are down with terms like "FTM" and "anti-oppression." Imagine a place where a dialogue can go on behind the counter about what can be done to end genocide in darfur, or how the oil industry has caused wars in central asia, or how great that show lastnight was....
And don't be surprised by the toy box right next to the multi-cultural kids books. Then check out the books on queer parenting. Or all the knitting and gardening books. The books on punk rock and french hip-hop. All the zines. The "how-to-build-an-eco-house" section. The race and culture section. World history (divided up by part of the world) and an entire wall of politics and labor and economics books.
There's just so much to see....
LEFT BANK BOOKS COLLECTIVE, I LOVE YOU!
(no wonder I started working here!)
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FEAR THE BABY SHOWER NO MORE!!!!!!!!!!!
When I think of Bootyland, I remember back when I was pregnant and going to play-dates and parent meet-ups at the store. I remember belly-dancing classes. I remember meeting the owners and other...
When I think of Bootyland, I remember back when I was pregnant and going to play-dates and parent meet-ups at the store. I remember belly-dancing classes. I remember meeting the owners and other parents who worked there and just being amazed at how wonderful these people were. At Bootyland, you never feel like a "customer" per se, but more like a friend. From the begining.
Have i forgotten to say how incredibly cool all the stuff they sell there is??? Hand made skirts, toys, shirts, suits, cloaks, bags, costumes (a common statement here is "Can I get that in an adult size?")...... punk rockin' kids tees, sneakers, booties, scarfs......stylin' diaper bags, locally made maternity wear (that i often see non-pregnant ladies buying just because they are such cool clothes).....hand made and beautifully painted kiddie tables, chairs, stools, and toy chests....did i mention kilts? Yeah, i said KILTS. And baby slings, and diapers and diaper covers, and radical parenting zines, and buttons, and shoes. And there's a few jars next to the register full of studs and spikes, just in case you need that extra touch on your diaper bag :)
This store is a very ethical about where it gets its products, and if you have anything specific you want (organic cotton? vegan shoes? fair trade? good labor practices?), and I want all of those things, then this is the store for you!
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I love Seven Star!
I've trained in three styles of martial arts, but only stuck with one. The one I stuck with for more than a year was Kajukenbo, and the reason is that Seven Star offers childcare, scholarships and is...
I've trained in three styles of martial arts, but only stuck with one. The one I stuck with for more than a year was Kajukenbo, and the reason is that Seven Star offers childcare, scholarships and is full of wonderful people. Michelle is an excellent teacher, as are all the other teachers. They teach martial arts with kindness and it is effective. I started training at 7star because a male karate teacher friend of mine told me that 7star students are "very tough ladies" and that they had a reputation for kicking boy butt at open sparring. Recently, I invited another male friend of mine to open sparring and he said, and I quote, "You know why they have co-ed open sparring? So they can get men to come and get their asses kicked by girls!"
Though I've never seen a situation at open sparring where anyone got their "ass kicked" and the teachers stress checking in with your sparring partner, I think it does say something about the effectiveness of training at an all women school. Basically, that training with other women doesn't mean it's less effective training.
Seven star also teaches self-defense for women. The beginners cycle involves a lot of using your voice, thinking about body language, and even how to de-escalate situations. If you do the beginners cycle and nothing else, you are better off. If you do the beginners cycle and you feel like you aren't getting enough excercise, then keep with it because it does feel a lot more like excercise after the beginner's cycle (in my experience atleast).
This is an excellent school. I couldn't say enough about how great this school is, so you should try it!! Check the website for the next try-a-class night, or for the next beginner's cycle. www.7starwomenskungfu.org
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Healthy Food, Healthy People
Madison Market has great options for healthy foods, vegan alternatives, non-hydrogenated margarines, bulk organic rices...and of course, treats.
The people who work here are really the reason I...
Madison Market has great options for healthy foods, vegan alternatives, non-hydrogenated margarines, bulk organic rices...and of course, treats.
The people who work here are really the reason I keep coming back...I can't see Murdock without smiling at his cheery (and wholely honest) demeanor. The cashier's all remember my son by name, many of the staff have become my friends just by shopping there so much... it's less of a customer-employee interaction, as a friendly human-human interaction. In any given shopping trip, I'll likely get a few hugs, some invitations to get togethers, my son will get stickers and balloons, we'll get lots of yummy and healthy food, some bath salts...
The only reason Mad Market doesn't get five stars, the big downfall, is that they treat the deli and cafe as one entity, and so sometimes you just have to wait a while before you can get coffee. Being in a rush isn't always a good thing, and taking your time isn't always bad...but I thought I'd be honest, that, in a rush, get your coffee someplace else!
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